Line-clasp.



No. 686,982. Patented Nov. [9, 19m. A. w. P. MALINS. LINE CLASP.

(Application filed Mar. 17, 1900.)

(No Model.)

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR \V. P. MALINS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

LINE-CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 686,982, datedNovember 19, 1901- Application filed March 17, 1900. Serial No. 9,028.(No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ARTHUR W. P. MALINS, acitizen of the United Statesof America, having residence and post-oflice address at Hartford, in thecounty of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented a certain newand useful Improvement in Line-Clasps, of which the following is adescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, where-1n- Figure 1 is a top view. Fig. 2 is a side view. Fig. 3 is a bottomview. Fig. 4 is a View in central vertical longitudinal section on theplane denoted by the dotted line a; a in Fig. 1.

The object of the improvement is the production of a line-clasp havingcertain features of novelty and advantage.

This line-clasp has four parts-the body, the tongue, the pivot-pin, andthe spring. The body has in the main four partsthe side ears on at thecenter, the strap-loop b at one end, the bar or jaw c at the other end,and the crossbar c. There is an opening through the clasp-body betweenthe ears, and said cross-bar forms the forward boundary of this opening.The bar 0 forms a stationary jaw and constitutes a portion of theboundary of an open-side line-space.

The word line as herein used means a rope or the like, and the wordsline-space mean the space in which the line lies when it is clasped andheld in this device.

The letter 61 denotes the tongue, which is pivoted to the body andnormally pressed by a spring e to the clamping position, its movement inthis direction being limited by the crossbar c, which serves as a stopand not only prevents the teeth (1 from striking the stationary jaw whenthe device is not in use, whereby the teeth would be dulled or perhapsbroken, but also prevents the movable jaw at the upper end of the tonguefrom being drawn through the line-space, and thus releasing the line.

The letter f denotes the pivot-pin, which connects the body and thetongue. The tongue has on it and as a part of it two cars 62, whichfitwithin and next the ears a, which are upon the body. The pivot-pinfpierces or traverses all these cars. The spring e is a coiled spring.It is coiled about the pivotpin. It has two projecting ends, one ofwhich bears againstthe tongue and the other against the clasp-body. Thetongue (I has a face (1 constituting a movable jaw and provided withteeth d Italso has a projection (1 which is so formed, shaped, andlocated as to close the open side of the line-space in the closedposition of the movable jaw, and in that closed position it projectsacross and lies against or nearly against the end of the stationary jawc. It will be observed that the projection d when the clasp is in useprojects entirely across the line-space and beyond both the end and sideof the body. It thus at all operative posit-ions entirely closes theopen end of the line-space, and by virtue of its lateral projectionbeyond the body it may be used as an auxiliary handle, pressure uponwhich when a thick line is tightly clamped will relieve in part thepressure on the handle of the tongue, thus preventing bending orbreaking of the tongue and permitting it to be made thinner and lighterthan would otherwise be necessary.

It will be readily apparent that a person by pressing downward on thethumb-piece at the rear end of the tongue will so raise the movable jawat its front end as to leave the line-space open on the side, the saidrear end projecting at an acute angle to the plane of said body beyondspring e and also at an angle to the front end of the tongue, wherebypivotal movement of said tongue is facilitated. Then by releasing thetongue the projection d will close that side of the space which wasopen. The line, which meanwhile may be inserted inthe line-space, ispinched between the jaws c and (Z and the teeth (1 will take into theline, making the hold a firm one.

I claim as my improvement- 1. Av clasp, comprising a body portion formedwith an open-side line-space at one end, a bar formed integral with saidbody, extending transversely thereto and forming the upper portion ofthe boundary of said line-space, one end of said line-space being leftentirely open for the full width thereof, a tongue pivoted to said bodyportion, and provided with a suitable clamping-head, a spring fornormally holding said head Within said line-space, and a side projectionformed on said head adapted to entirely close the open end of saidline-space, substantially as described.

2. A clasp, comprising a body portion formed with an open-sideline-space at one end, a bar formed integral with said body, extendingtransversely thereto and forming the upper portion of the boundary ofsaid line-space, one end of said line-space being left entirely open forthe full Width thereof,

a tongue pivoted to said body portion, and provided with a suitableclamping-head, a

spring for normally holding said head within said line-space, and a sideprojection formed on said head adapted to entirely close the open end ofsaid line-space and projecting be- I 5 yond the free end of said bar andspaced therefrom, substantially as described.

ARTHUR W. P. MALINS.

Witnesses:

W. E. SIMoNns, LUITGARD MORBA.

